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Lea Miller-Tooley hopped off a call to welcome the Baylor women’s basketball team to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where 80-degree temperatures made it easy for the Bears to settle in on Paradise Island a week before Thanksgiving. About 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Notre Dame takes on Chaminade during the first half of a 2017 game in Lahaina, Hawaii. Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo argues a call during the first half of a Nov. 16 game against Bowling Green in East Lansing, Michigan. Mi zzo is making his fourth trip to Maui. The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021. “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii. Mike Tyson, left, slaps Jake Paul during a weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight bout, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal serves during a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) A fan takes a picture of the moon prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Uruguay and Colombia in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich) Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark reacts after missing a shot on the 18th hole in the final round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) fails to pull in a pass against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson) Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, top right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) India's Tilak Varma jumps in the air as he celebrates after scoring a century during the third T20 International cricket match between South Africa and India, at Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Kansas State players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) A fan rapped in an Uruguay flag arrives to the stands for a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) People practice folding a giant United States flag before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Georgia's Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League, group B1 soccer match between Georgia and Ukraine at the AdjaraBet Arena in Batumi, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili) Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque, right, attempts to score while Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) and Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) keep the puck out of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misses the third goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and France, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Fans argue in stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Israel at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Thursday Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova hits a return against Danielle Collins, of the United States, during a tennis match at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Malaga, southern Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) England's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Katie Taylor, left, lands a right to Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight title bout, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) UConn's Paige Bueckers (5) battles North Carolina's Laila Hull, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during the final match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski warms up before facing the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Brazil's Marquinhos attempts to stop the sprinklers that were turned on during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela at Monumental stadium in Maturin, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) falls after driving to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner, right, tackles Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, left, on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Get local news delivered to your inbox!
President-elect Donald Trump has urged the US Supreme Court to pause implementation of a law that would ban popular social media app TikTok or force its sale, arguing he should have time after taking office to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The court is set to hear arguments in the case on January 10. The law would require TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the platform to an American company or face a ban. The US Congress voted in April to ban it unless ByteDance sells the app by January 19. TikTok, which has more than 170-million US users, and its parent have sought to have the law struck down. But if the court does not rule in their favour and no divestment occurs, the app could be effectively banned in the US on January 19, one day before Trump takes office. Trump's support for TikTok is a reversal from 2020, when he tried to block the app in the US and force its sale to American companies because of its Chinese ownership. It also shows the significant effort by the company to forge inroads with Trump and his team during the presidential campaign. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute,” said D. John Sauer, Trump's lawyer who is also the president-elect's pick for US solicitor-general. “Instead, he respectfully requests that the court consider staying the act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump's incoming administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case,” he added. Trump previously met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in December, hours after the president-elect expressed he had a “warm spot” for the app and that he favoured allowing TikTok to keep operating in the US for at least a little while. The president-elect also said he had received billions of views on the social media platform during his presidential campaign. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has previously said the justice department has misstated its ties to China, arguing its content recommendation engine and user data is stored in the US on cloud servers operated by Oracle Corp while content moderation decisions that affect US users are made in the US as well. Free speech advocates separately told the Supreme Court on Friday the US law against TikTok evokes the censorship regimes put in place by the US' authoritarian enemies. The US justice department has argued Chinese control of TikTok poses a continuing threat to national security, a position supported by most US legislators. Montana attorney-general Austin Knudsen led a coalition of 22 attorneys-general on Friday in filing an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to uphold the national TikTok divest-or-ban legislation. Reuters
South Korean star Park Sung-hoon talks K-dramas at Red Sea International Film FestivalHassan: JD(S) functionaries on Saturday criticised the Congress party's Jana Kalyana Samavesha, alleging that the event was organised solely to target JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda and his family. Rather than highlighting the government's achievements, Congress functionaries only targeted one family for political gins, a former minister from the seular party said a press conference. Former minister HK Kumaraswamy said that the government's achievements should have been discussed at a public welfare convention. He also criticised Congress leaders for failing to highlight their contributions to the state and the district. He demanded that the government release a list of their achievements. Kumaraswamy also announced plans to hold a convention in the district to strengthen his party. A final call on this will be taken after discussion with party leaders. MLA CN Balakrishna stated that the government has prevented legislators of any party, including Congress, from visiting villages by not providing any grants to them. "Congress organised the convention under the guise of public welfare, to secure the positions of the chief minister and the deputy CM," he said. Balakrishna said former minister and JD(S) functionary HD Revanna was responsible for the Hassan-Bengaluru four-lane highway, several colleges, bus stations, and a district court in Hassan. MLA HP Swaroop Prakash, city council president M Chandregowda, and JD(S) taluk president S Devegowda were present. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
Stranded tourists find shelter in Gund mosque amid snowfall Srinagar: In a heartwarming display of Kashmiri hospitality, locals in Gund, on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway, opened the doors of a mosque to shelter a group of travellers stranded due to heavy snowfall. A dozen tourists from Punjab found themselves caught in the snowfall on Friday while returning from the Sonamarg area, officials said Their vehicles became stuck in the snow and with no nearby hotels and local houses too small to accommodate the group, Gund residents opened the doors of the Jamia Masjid, allowing the tourists to stay there for the night, officials added. “It was the best possible solution as the mosque has a hamaam, which stays warm throughout the night,” said Bashir Ahmad, a local resident. The Jamia Masjid at Gund is located less than 10 kilometers from the site of a terrorist attack in Gagangir, where six people — five non-local labourers and a local doctor — were killed in October this year. A video of the tourists spending the night inside the mosque has since gone viral. The tourists expressed their gratitude to the locals for their help. “We were stuck in the snow, and you came to our rescue. We are extremely thankful to all of you,” one of them said. Another tourist added, “Everyone should visit Kashmir to experience its hospitality. Everyone here is kind and it is safe to visit. Please come to this paradise on earth.” Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq praised the gesture and said it was heartening to see Kashmiris open their mosques and homes to stranded tourists amidst heavy snowfall. “This gesture of warmth and humanity reflects our longstanding tradition of hospitality and helping others in times of need,” he said on X. PDP leader Iltija Mufti also took to social media to praise the “humane” gestures extended by locals to stranded tourists. “Stranded tourists in Ganderbal found an unexpected yet warm refuge at a mosque last night. Kashmiris aren’t only human, but humane too. I wish the media would stop perpetuating stereotypes that grab eyeballs and instead highlight how hospitable Kashmiris truly are,” Mufti posted on X. PDP leader Khursheed Alam also commended the people for their generosity in assisting stranded tourists during the ongoing snowfall, which has disrupted daily life across the region. “It is heartening to witness that Kashmir’s long-standing tradition of hospitality is alive and thriving. Despite the challenges posed by snowfall, including water and electricity shortages, the people of Kashmir have shown remarkable generosity, making the region proud once again,” he said in a statement. Another video circulating on social media shows several tourist families comprising of men, women and children being hosted by a local family in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district after they were stranded due to snowfall. The tourists were full of praise for their hosts, saying, “They helped us in this difficult time. They are like gods to us.” Elsewhere, heavy snowfall also left many tourists stranded along the Srinagar-Jammu highway and at tourist destinations like Doodhpathri. However, not all the stranded tourists were complaining. “The car ignition isn’t working due to the cold, and we have to push it. But it’s fine; we’re enjoying it,” said a tourist from Haryana as he waited for clearance at Qazigund to head home. Police and civil administration have begun reaching out to stranded tourists, providing hot drinks and other necessities to keep them warm.Random Forays | Making 2025 a year to remember
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Spot the tension here: I'm a working mom of two messy toddlers, an endlessly shedding dog and a husband who sometimes tracks in some dirt. And I like to have a clean house. My Dyson V15 cordless vacuum cleaner helps me clean up life's messes faster, better and more conveniently than before -- and just as important, helps me keep a sane household. Some commenters on Reddit seem to think you shouldn't buy a practical gift like a vacuum cleaner for your loved one. I disagree. Before the Dyson V15 was awarded a CNET Editors' Choice Award , before it out-suctioned its stick vacuum competitors in CNET's laboratory testing and before it made CNET's best cordless vacuums list , the Dyson V15 was just a gift-wrapped box under my decorated tree at holiday time. That was two years ago, and it's still my favorite gift. CNET's most recent survey found three out of 10 adults plan to start holiday shopping early this year. This strategy will work well for vacuum shoppers because the usual price tag for the Dyson V15 ranges from $700 to $750. Right now, you can find it on sale for Black Friday for $550 . That's 27% off. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. This is only two days worth of dog hair my Dyson can suction up on its highest suction setting from a 500 square foot section of carpet. Why I love my Dyson V15 vacuum My Dyson V15 works great for quick clean-ups or deep cleans. Because it's cordless, I appreciate not having to constantly plug and then unplug it when cleaning the upstairs and downstairs in my home. It doesn't take up storage space because the charging docking station is mounted in our garage. It's no surprise to me that the Dyson V15 outperformed most of its competitors during CNET's lab testing. It is now rated as having the best suction performance for a cordless vacuum. My Dyson cleans my car too My kids' and pets' messes aren't contained to my house so I love how the Dyson easily converts to handheld mode, which comes in handy for suctioning up loose toddler snacks from car seats and car floors. The crevice attachment can reach those in-between spaces in my car and couch cushions. The Dyson V15 converts into a handheld for easy car cleanup. Washable HEPA filter is a welcome plus I love the washable HEPA cloth filter too. No more running out of replacement filters. Simply wash it and let it dry . I also bought a backup replacement filter to use so I don't have to wait for the original filter to dry before using my beloved Dyson on another mess. I love how easy it is to clean my Dyson HEPA filter. I have two replacement filters on deck in case one is still wet from washing it. A high-performing vacuum with one flaw My one complaint is its battery life when using it on its best suction setting: boost mode. Dyson's boost mode works well picking up my dog's pet hair, but it drains the battery quickly. To clean two stories in boost mode, it needs to recharge, which can take a few hours. In the middle setting -- auto mode -- I can clean the upstairs and downstairs of my 2,000-square-foot home on a single charge, and it works well on hard floors and pretty good on carpet. Auto mode is fine for in-between cleanings, but boost mode works best for a deep carpet clean. Dyson's three power modes are Eco, Auto. Medium and Boost are designed for different tasks. The battery's overall run time will vary based on power mode selection. I find Boost mode to work best on pet hair, but will drain the battery quickly. I found that if I use Dyson's boost mode on the downstairs floor and then put the Dyson back on the charger, it will recharge enough to finish the upstairs while I mop the downstairs hard floor. Is the Dyson V15 on sale on for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? These devices frequently go on sale during the holiday shopping season, so keep an eye out for major savings. Today, after Black Friday, you can get the Dyson V15 for 27% off, or $550. Check back here frequently as we continue rounding up the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals available right now.
Michigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10
Bashar al-Assad is mocked as rebels unearth photo of Syrian president in a tiny pair of Speedos after seizing family palace in Aleppo - as officials say government could fall 'in the next week'COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game. Ohio State police said in a statement “multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” Ohio State police will investigate the fight, according to the statement. After the Ohio State players confronted their bitter rivals at midfield, defensive end Jack Sawyer grabbed the top of the Wolverines' flag and ripped it off the pole as the brawl moved toward the Michigan bench. Eventually, police officers rushed into the ugly scene. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he understood the actions of his players. “There are some prideful guys on our team who weren't going to sit back and let that happen,” Day said. The two Ohio State players made available after the game brushed off questions about it. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings, who rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, didn't like how the Buckeyes players involved themselves in the Wolverines' postgame celebration. He called it “classless.” “For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game," he said in an on-field interview with Fox Sports. “It’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football. But at the end of the day, you know some people got to — they got to learn how to lose, man. ... We had 60 minutes, we had four quarters, to do all that fighting.” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said everybody needs to do better. “So much emotions on both sides," he said. "Rivalry games get heated, especially this one. It’s the biggest one in the country, so we got to handle that better.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Cam Carter put LSU ahead for good with a jumper 1:08 into the third overtime and the Tigers came away with a wild 109-102 win over UCF on Sunday in the third-place game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Carter's make sparked a 5-0 spurt for LSU (5-1), which mounted a ferocious second-half rally that began after Darius Johnson drilled a 3-pointer to put the Knights up 52-34 with 12:57 to play in regulation. UCF (4-2) got back within two in the third overtime, but it never found a way to draw even. Vyctorius Miller and Jordan Sears sealed the victory, combining for three buckets down low that gave the Tigers a 106-99 cushion with 17 seconds remaining. Carter was the late-game hero for LSU, scoring the final four points of regulation to forge a 70-70 tie. He also knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:19 left in the first extra session to give the Tigers a 76-75 advantage. Sears gave LSU a four-point edge with a triple of his own with 2:10 to go, but the Tigers failed to stay in front, and UCF's Keyshawn Hall kept the game going by sinking two free throws with six seconds remaining to make it 82-82. Neither team led by more than three in the second overtime, with Hall again coming to the Knights' rescue. He made two layups in the final 52 seconds of the frame to knot things at 93 and send the teams to a third OT. Few could have predicted 15 minutes of extra basketball after UCF put together a 25-3 first-half run that lifted it to a 38-18 advantage with 2:12 left until the break. LSU responded with seven unanswered points, but the Knights still led comfortably, 40-25, at intermission. Sears finished with a game-high-tying 25 points to go along with nine boards, while Jalen Reed recorded a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double for the Tigers. Carter netted 20 points, Miller had 16 and Dji Bailey chipped in 14. Johnson collected 25 points, six rebounds, eight assists and five steals for UCF. Hall totaled 21 points and 10 boards, and Jordan Ivy-Curry supplied 20 points. LSU outshot UCF 43.2 percent to 40.7 percent and had narrow advantages from behind the arc (12 made shots to 10) and the free-throw line (21-18). --Field Level Media
'There are 900 U.S. troops stationed there': Experts outraged after Trump's latest commentLorain County Community College students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical (STEM) fields may be eligible for scholarships made possible through a grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, according to a news release. LCCC is one of 46 Ohio higher education institutions that will receive funding from the new round of the Choose Ohio First grant program, the release said. A total of $32.5 million will be distributed among the institutions over the next five years. “The DeWine-Husted Administration’s continued support of the Choose Ohio First program is a win for our state and its students, and gives more Lorain County Community College students the opportunity to prepare for a successful future in a high-demand STEM field,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey in the release. “This round of funding will benefit many talented LCCC students in the manufacturing, engineering, and health care fields, among others.” LCCC’s partnership with the Choose Ohio First program goes back more than a decade, with the first scholarships awarded to students in 2008. Since that time, hundreds of LCCC students have benefitted from scholarships through the program, the release said. “Preparing students for in-demand STEM careers is essential to driving economic growth in Lorain County and across Ohio,” said LCCC President Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D., in the release. “The Choose Ohio First program aligns with LCCC’s mission to provide affordable pathways to these high-demand professions, right here in our region.” When combined with LCCC’s low tuition rate, the Choose Ohio First scholarship allows students to access a high-quality STEM education at little or no cost to themselves. Additionally, LCCC students in STEM majors participate in a learning community that provides academic support, industry connection and career mentoring to students. That adds up to success for students like Lia Douglas, a 2019 Midview High School and Lorain County Joint Vocational School graduate. Douglas is enrolled in LCCC’s microelectronic manufacturing applied bachelor’s degree program — the only degree of its kind available in Ohio, the release said. “Getting the Choose Ohio First scholarship took a huge weight off of my shoulders, and not just financially,” Douglas said in the release. “A big part of it is being involved in your field beyond the classroom. “I could talk to peers through the same experiences I had. And I had help updating my resume and preparing for interviews.” Douglas already has completed two internships in her field with local employers and looks forward to additional opportunities as she completes her degree, the release said. “The opportunities are endless for STEM students in Northeast Ohio,” Ballinger said in the release. “With Choose Ohio First and LCCC support services, students can earn a debt-free degree on a direct trajectory to rewarding careers close to home.” Spring semester begins on Jan. 21. Learn more about LCCC STEM programs, scholarships and more at www.lorainccc.edu/stem .
LA Galaxy win record 6th MLS CupFacebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save It's championship week in college football and the Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB guarantees deposit match bonus up to $1,000 for NCAA football player props ahead of Saturday's games, including the Big Ten Championship between No. 1 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State (8 p.m. ET on CBS) . The process is simple: register for a new account and then make your first deposit. Underdog will match your investment 50% of the way up to $1,000, then you're free to start selecting college football player props. If you seek an alternative to sportsbooks or you aren't in a legal betting state, Underdog is for you. It's widely available and offers the chance to combine multiple Higher or Lower (Over/Under) picks into a single entry, just like a parlay. Underdog also has live props throughout the game. Note: This Underdog Fantasy bonus is available in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MN, MS, NE, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY & All Canadian Provinces except ON. How to register for Underdog Fantasy All new customers can earn up to $1,000 in bonuses to play with at Underdog. Follow the steps listed below to claim the promo: Click on our Underdog Fantasy bonus code link and register, or register by launching the Underdog Fantasy mobile app. Create a new username and password, email address, date of birth, and other required information. Enter the Underdog promo code BETFPB in the promo code box. If you use our link, the code will auto populate for you. Make a deposit into your new account via your preferred payment method, and you will be offered a deposit match of up to $1,000 to use on games at Underdog Fantasy. The bonus will land in your account within 72 hours and must be used within 60 days. This is a great way to test out the platform. Underdog Fantasy is available in over 30 states including many without legal sports betting. If you live in an eligible state, you can take full advantage of the platform and sign up to play fun daily fantasy contests. Keep reading to learn how to claim your bonus using our Underdog DFS promo code. It's Championship Week in college football as teams battle for postseason position including spots in the coveted 12-team College Football Playoff. But perhaps no game will have more eyeballs on it than the SEC Championship in Atlanta: Oregon Ducks vs. Penn State Nittany Lions - 8 p.m. ET Each game houses plenty of college football player props and for each one, bettors must choose Higher or Lower on the total set by Underdog. This includes passing/rushing/receiving yards, touchdowns, stat combinations, passing attempts, completions and more . From there, make between 2 and 8 selections to put into an entry, with the payouts increasing with each added selection. The standard payout structure works like this: 2 picks: 3x payout 3 picks: 6x payout 4 picks: 10x payout 5 picks: 20x payout 6 picks: 25x payout Keep in mind that Underdog may alte the potential payout for certain selections (such as alternative lines). For entries of three selections or more, a 'flex' option is available that will pay out a portion of winnings even if one of your selections falls short. Please note that college football props may be limited to select states, so check your local listings on the Underdog app. There are a variety of contests that users can enter on the Underdog Fantasy platform. These are different game styles that let users test their knowledge in different ways. After you take advantage of the Underdog Fantasy promo bonus using the code BETFPB , you will see all of these different game types offered to you. There are two main contests that are used for contests at Underdog Fantasy. They are the Pick ‘Em contest and the Draft contest. They work as follows. Pick’em : Choose if a player will finish with a higher or lower number in a specific stat. For example, choose if a player will finish over or under their projected yardage total. Draft : This is a more traditional DFS-style game where you draft players against other users and earn points depending on how they perform. You must be over 21 to play. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. 1-800 GAMBLER. Brian Sausa is a New York-based content creator for Catena Media with an extensive betting history and several years of iGaming industry experience. A journalism graduate with a ranging sports background, Brian’s previous employment includes the flagship sites for multiple professional leagues including the MLB and NHL. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
More Pennsylvania families are backing away from toys and gadgets this holiday season and asking for a gift that lasts far beyond Christmas — cash contributions to PA 529 college savings accounts. As parents get more comfortable asking for gifts that can help build their children’s future, PA 529 balances are growing. Assets in the PA 529 Investment Plan increased 19.13% year-over-year in 2023. “The holiday season is the perfect time to encourage friends and family to contribute to a student’s PA 529 account,” said Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity. “It’s a meaningful gift that will have a lasting impact.” The large increase came during favorable market conditions, but the growth in assets was also driven by the creation of new accounts, more regular contributions and more overall cash gifts to the accounts, officials said. People who contribute to a PA 529 plan are eligible for a state income tax deduction. Earlier this year, PA 529 teamed up with the Washington-based College Savings Foundation, a non-profit national trade group that advocates for policies supporting 529 savings programs and increases public awareness of them. “We’ve always been active in advocating for helping families across the Commonwealth make higher education a bit more affordable, and we see CSF as a natural partner in those efforts,” Garrity said. Nationwide, the CSF reports that its members saw roughly $650 million in gift contributions in 2023, and are on pace for more this year with around $550 million in the first three quarters of 2024. “Not only is this a smart and strategic way to help education savings grow,” said Chris McGee, chair of CSF, “but it also demonstrates to children from a young age just how important it is to work towards a long-term goal.” A recent CSF survey of 1,000 parents found that 65% of parents across the country plan to ask friends or family for contribution to their child’s 529 plan this holiday season and during other major events — up from 45% in a 2023 survey. The survey also showed that the majority of parents — 55% — are aware they can ask anyone for 529 gifts, up from 36% in 2023. “Further, numerous CSF members report significant increases in 529 gifting — through customized gifting portals, gift codes, e-gift cards, registries, crowdfunding apps and others,” according to CSF. PA 529 has been spreading the word about its holiday gifting program through social media, emails and local media, officials said. To make contributions, an account owner must first get a unique Ugifts code by logging into their PA 529 account and following the instructions. They then share that code with people who may contribute. Anyone who wants to gift the accounts can visit ugifts529.com , enter the code and click the “Give a Gift” button. “For anyone who’s a little less tech savvy, there’s also an option to contribute via check,” Garrity said. While the gifts bring students closer to their higher education goal, contributors also are eligible for a state income tax break. Pennsylvania taxpayers can deduct up to $18,000 in contributions per beneficiary per year. Married couples filing jointly can deduct up to $36,000, assuming each spouse has an income of at least $18,000 from their state taxable income. In 2025, the new limits will be $19,000 for individuals and $38,000 for married couples filing jointly, Garrity said. Contributors can give up to $90,000 in a single year — $180,000 for a married couple filing jointly — for each beneficiary without incurring any federal gift tax. The amount contributed is prorated over five years. “For example, a $30,000 contribution would use $6,000 of the current $18,000 annual gift tax exclusion each year for five years,” Garrity said. Another tax advantage is that earnings grow tax-deferred and are free from federal income tax when used for qualified educational expenses. For Pennsylvania taxpayers, earnings also are free from state income tax when used for qualified education expenses. (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy — and a big debt problem that will be a hurdle to delivering on them. Trump has bold ideas on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs, but high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. Not only is the federal debt at roughly $36 trillion, but the spike in inflation after the coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. The higher cost of servicing the debt gives Trump less room to maneuver with the federal budget as he seeks income tax cuts. It’s also a political challenge because higher interest rates have made it costlier for many Americans to buy a home or new automobile. And the issue of high costs helped Trump reclaim the presidency in November’s election. “It’s clear the current amount of debt is putting upward pressure on interest rates, including mortgage rates for instance,” said Shai Akabas, executive director of the economic policy program at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “The cost of housing and groceries is going to be increasingly felt by households in a way that are going to adversely affect our economic prospects in the future.” Akabas stressed that the debt service is already starting to crowd out government spending on basic needs such as infrastructure and education. About 1 in 5 dollars spent by the government are now repaying investors for borrowed money, instead of enabling investments in future economic growth. It’s an issue on Trump’s radar. In his statement on choosing billionaire investor Scott Bessent to be his treasury secretary, the Republican president-elect said Bessent would “help curb the unsustainable path of Federal Debt.” The debt service costs along with the higher total debt complicate Trump’s efforts to renew his 2017 tax cuts, much of which are set to expire after next year. The higher debt from those tax cuts could push interest rates higher, making debt service even costlier and minimizing any benefits the tax cuts could produce for growth. “Clearly, it’s irresponsible to run back the same tax cuts after the deficit has tripled,” said Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a former Republican congressional aide. “Even congressional Republicans behind the scenes are looking for ways to scale down the president’s ambitions.” Democrats and many economists say Trump’s income tax cuts disproportionately benefit the wealthy, which deprives the government of revenues needed for programs for the middle class and poor. “The president-elect’s tax policy ideas will increase the deficit because they will decrease taxes for those with the highest ability to pay, such as the corporations whose tax rate he’s proposed reducing even further to 15%,” said Jessica Fulton, vice president of policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington-based think tank that deals with issues facing communities of color. Trump’s team insists he can make the math work. “The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, including lowering prices. He will deliver,” said Karoline Leavitt, the Trump transition spokeswoman. When Trump was last in the White House in 2020, the federal government was spending $345 billion annually to service the national debt. It was possible to run up the national debt with tax cuts and pandemic aid because the average interest rate was low, such that repayment costs were manageable even as debt levels climbed. Congressional Budget Office projections indicate that debt service costs next year could exceed $1 trillion. That’s more than projected spending on defense. The total is also greater than nondefense spending on infrastructure, food aid and other programs under the direction of Congress. What fueled the increased cost of servicing the debt has been higher interest rates. In April 2020, when the government was borrowing trillions of dollars to address the pandemic, the yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell as low as 0.6%. They’re now 4.4%, having increased since September as investors expect Trump to add several trillions of dollars onto projected deficits with his income tax cuts. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the wealthy businessmen leading Trump’s efforts to cut government costs, have proposed that the incoming administration should simply refuse to spend some of the money approved by Congress. It’s an idea that Trump has also backed, but one that would likely provoke challenges in court as it would undermine congressional authority. Russell Vought, the White House budget director during Trump’s first term and Trump’s choice to lead it again, put out an alternative proposed budget for 2023 with more than $11 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years in order to potentially generate a surplus. Michael Faulkender, a finance professor who served in Trump’s Treasury Department, told a congressional committee in March that all the energy and environmental components of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act from 2022 should be repealed to reduce deficits. Trump has also talked up tariffs on imports to generate revenues and reduce deficits, while some Republican lawmakers such as House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, have discussed adding work requirements to trim Medicaid expenses. The White House was last pressured by high rates to address debt service costs roughly three decades ago during the start of Democrat Bill Clinton’s presidency. Higher yields on the 10-year Treasury notes led Clinton and Congress to reach an agreement on deficit reduction, ultimately producing a budget surplus starting in 1998. Clinton political adviser James Carville joked at the time about how bond investors pushing up borrowing rates for the U.S. government could humble the commander in chief. “I used to think that if there was reincarnation, I wanted to come back as the president or the pope or as a .400 baseball hitter,” Carville said. “But now I would like to come back as the bond market. You can intimidate everybody.”